Traditional Floor Research Articles

Design and static and dynamic analysis of floor vibration isolators for high-speed train.

With the increasing speed of high-speed train, it is more and more difficult to reduce the vibration and noise inside the train. The floor of the train, as a carriage component in direct contact with passengers, is of great significance to improve its vibration and sound isolation performance to ensure the comfort of passengers. In this article, a floor vibration isolator with quasi-zero stiffness is designed based on the dimensional parameters of the traditional floor vibration isolator, and the vibration isolation performance is analyzed by the finite element model of the floor vibration isolator from the static and dynamics aspects, respectively. The load-displacement curves of the floor vibration isolator are obtained through static simulation calculations, and the dynamic analysis of the floor vibration isolator is carried out by simulation methods, which verifies the low-frequency vibration isolation performance of the floor vibration isolator under different working conditions, and the vibration isolator has a good prospect for development.

Tribological behavior of epoxy/nano-clay nanocomposites used as a floor coating

Floor coating is a contemporary technique used to substitute traditional flooring materials like ceramic, oak, and alabaster with epoxy paint. The properties of epoxy floor coatings were studied in terms of mechanical properties, wear resistance, and tribological properties. Nano-clays (MMT for epoxy) were added for reinforcement in different proportions (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 wt.%) using the ultrasound dispersing device. The results show that the wear resistance of the nanocomposite coating reinforced with 2% nanoclay is improved by 82% compared to pure epoxy. The hardness increases by about 13.8% and 19.7% when the nanoclay content is 0.5% and 4%, respectively, compared to pure epoxy, while the adhesive strength decreases with increasing the weight percentage of nanoclay in the composites. In addition, results show that scratch hardness improved by 37.5% and 118.75% when nanoclay content was 0.5% and 4%, respectively.

Environmentally Sustainable Raised Access Flooring Product Development

Raised access floors are nowadays widely used in buildings. A novel raised access flooring product is developed by this research, with a set of sustainable features, including less environmental impact and high strength. Its floor panels are made of polyurethane (PU) reinforced with glass fibre, which is light-weight and fire-resistant, replacing the traditional floor panel materials, and the panels are supported by simplified steel stringers to reinforce the strength of the flooring product. Instead of the conventional sandwich design consisting of a core material encapsulated by outer layers, the new floor panel design adopts the reinforced PU as its sole material, which not only simplifies the structure but also reduces floor weight and costs. The sustainable advantage is further approved by the environmental life cycle assessments of the new raised flooring product in comparison to traditional ones made of cement and woodchips, with results showing that the new floor product’s total environmental impact is 52% less than cement floor and 47% less than woodchip board floor. Further, the finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out, and the experimental test was conducted to verify the FEA results, indicating that the new product’s strength is higher than the requirements of the raised access flooring product standards. There is no raised access flooring product made of PU reinforced with glass fibre available in the market, and, hence, the new product developed by this research is a novel contribution.

Comparative Analysis of Broiler Housing Systems: Implications for Production and Wellbeing.

This study compares the effects of modern colony cage systems and traditional floor systems on the production and welfare of broiler chickens. Through two trials spanning 35 days each, we evaluated various physiological parameters, including growth performance, bone health, stress responses, and meat quality. Colony cages demonstrated superior thermal regulation and growth performance compared to traditional floor systems, but also exhibited higher frequencies of leg deformity and reduced standing ability. Conversely, the broilers in traditional floor systems experienced heat stress-related challenges, impacting the meat quality. Our findings underscore the need to balance productivity with animal welfare in broiler farming practices. By understanding the distinct impacts of different housing systems, we can work towards improving broiler rearing methods to ensure optimal welfare and production outcomes.

Experimental and Theoretical Design of Reinforced Bubble Deck Concrete (RBDC) Slab: A Review

Slabs are vital for supporting loads and forming the foundation for structures' floors and roofs, classified as one-way or two-way based on deflection characteristics. A recent innovation in construction, the Reinforced Bubble Deck Concrete (RBDC) slab, integrates spherical or elliptical hollow bubbles within the slab for reinforcement, reducing concrete usage without compromising structural integrity. This unconventional approach diverges from traditional methods. The manuscript thoroughly reviews existing literature on the design and testing of Reinforced Bubble Deck Concrete slabs, aiming to explore their diverse characteristics as observed in international research studies. Findings demonstrate that these slabs offer a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional floor slabs. Their capacity to reduce weight while maintaining strength suggests they could revolutionize construction practices, potentially replacing conventional floor slabs in various projects.

Creating a Multi-Purpose Floor Cleaning Robot

Abstract: Traditional floor cleaners which rely on electricity; find widespread use in areas such as airports, railway platforms, hospitals, bus shelters, shopping malls, and various commercial spaces. These devices rely on electricity for operation, posing limitations on their usage. In regions like India, where power crises are prevalent, especially during summer, the effectiveness of floor cleaners is significantly hindered, particularly in bus stands. Therefore, there arises a need to develop an affordable and user-friendly battery-operated floor cleaner. This paper tries to create a multifunctional floor cleaning machine as an alternative to conventional electric models. The work includes modeling and analyzing the floor cleaner using relevant software.

Detection and Theoretical Numerical Simulation of the Failure Depth of the Bottom Plate in Belt Pressure Mining

Aiming at the problems of safety production cost caused by the increase of mining face width and pressure mining in Xizhuo Coal Mine in Chenghe Mining area, a mechanical model of floor plastic slip failure is established based on the theory of plastic slip line, and the difference between it and the traditional floor failure model is analyzed. The damaged contour line of the support stress and lateral support stress on the bottom plate through the advancing direction of the working face is the intersection line of a straight line and an arc line. The failure of the floor caused by lateral supporting stress is the failure of the floor again on the basis of the failure of the floor in the advancing direction of the working face, and there is a superimposed failure area. The analysis of the failure form of the stope floor by this mechanical model is closer to the engineering practice. By using “ultrasonic detection method + stress monitoring inverse analysis method,” the measured data such as disturbance failure depth and distribution law of large mining width working face were obtained. The test method used in this paper is relatively rare in the monitoring of the depth of floor disturbance failure at home and abroad. Considering that the traditional pressure water test method has disadvantages such as easy collapse hole, long period, and large error in monitoring the failure rule of deep floor rock mass, the embedded stress monitoring and reverse analysis method and ultrasonic detection method are used to successfully collect and real‐time monitor the data of rock floor before, during and after mining in the lower part of wide mining face of Xizhuo Coal Mine for the first time, and several effective data are obtained, which solves the three‐part “spatial‐time” all‐round floor disturbance and failure law field measurement which cannot be realized by traditional testing technology. By comparing the results of theoretical analysis, field measurement, and numerical simulation, the law and depth of floor disturbance failure of a 240‐m wide mining face in the Chenghe mining area are obtained for the first time, which provides scientific guidance for floor water disaster induced by coal seam mining under similar conditions in the future and has an important reference role for the prevention and control of Ordovician ash water disaster in coal mining. It provides important technical parameters for the safe setting of the effective water barrier layer and the selection and timing of the grouting layer of the floor, which can bring considerable economic and social benefits. The research results have important popularization value.

Effects of flooring on static and dynamic balance in young and older adults

BackgroundReducing fall-related injuries is difficult due to the multi-factorial nature of falls, and challenges in implementing injury-preventative strategies. While safety floors are effective at absorbing energy and reducing fall-related impact forces, the low stiffness component of these floors may impair an individual’s balance and mobility, thereby increasing fall risk. Research question: Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the influence of compliant flooring (i.e., safety flooring) on balance and mobility in young and older adults. Methods: Kinematics were measured with inertial measurement units from 20 young and 10 older adults. Static balance was evaluated during quiet stance on three flooring surfaces (traditional, safety, foam) with three stance positions (regular, tandem, one-legged). Mobility was evaluated using the 3 m timed-up-and-go test on two flooring surfaces (traditional, safety). Results: All participants were able to complete quiet standing trials on normal and safety flooring surfaces; however, most older adults could not complete one-legged stance trials or standing on foam. Significant age-related effects were observed for several balance and mobility tasks, particularly during the more challenging tandem stance condition, and the dynamic timed-up-and-go mobility test. In contrast, the introduction of safety flooring (compared to traditional flooring) had limited effects on balance/mobility (1 of 16 outcome variables showed negative effects). Significance: Overall, the findings demonstrate minimal effects of a novel safety floor compared to the age-related differences, and provide insights to assist researchers, consumers, and industry stakeholders in the development of environments that support safe movement and maintained independence for older adults.

Structural Performance of Demountable Hybrid Floor Systems Under Monotonic and Cyclic Loading

AbstractThe building sector is actively researching and reviewing technical solutions for de‐construction, driven by the increasing importance of sustainability requirements, as outlined in the EU Commission's ‘Green Deal,‘ which aims to achieve net‐zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Two key research areas in efficient structural design strategies are the performance of hybrid structures, which combine mechanical properties and architectural appearance of different materials, and the techniques and mechanical properties of connections between structural components that enable deconstruction and reuse. However, there is a scarcity of studies and methods focused on demountable and hybrid structural systems, limiting the understanding of their overall structural performance at a real‐structure floor level. In this paper, a finite element model is presented to conduct a comparative study between the traditional floor system with welded stud connections and the demountable floor system with coupler‐embedded bolted connectors. The numerical results showed that the serviceability loading capacity of the demountable floor system was 8% lower, and the difference in ultimate resistance was further enlarged. Reusing a demountable floor system, analysed in the case study, had little effect on the ultimate resistance, but it is difficult to exclude local plastic deformation after the first life cycles.

Stress-Relief–Anchor-Grouting, a Collaborative Control Technology for Severe Extrusion Floor Heave in a Deep Roadway: A Case Study

Severe extrusion floor heave is the most common type of failure of floors in deep roadways, and it is also a major problem restricting the safe and efficient mining of deep coal resources. In deep roadways, reducing floor stress is an effective means to control floor heave. In this study, the method of creating directional stress-relief zones by constructing stress-relief boreholes is applied; while the stress is released, the path of stress from the ribs transferred to the floor and to the extrusion failure path is cut off, and floor heave control is achieved. Therefore, based on the stress-boundary and rock-mass parameters of the roadway, the control effects of the borehole angle, length, diameter, and row spacing on the extrusion floor heave were studied, and the reasonable thresholds of borehole parameters were shown to ensure the stress-relief effect on the roadway. In addition, the bolt-grouting technology was used to strengthen the floor of the roadway, the broken surrounding rock was modified via grouting consolidation, the support strength of the floor was increased using high-tension bolts (cable), and there was a good floor heave control effect in the field application. On the basis of traditional floor reinforcement, the control effect of stress regulation on floor heave is fully considered in this study, and stress-relief–anchor-grouting, a collaborative control technology for floor heave in deep roadways, is developed. Based on the three factors affecting the stability of deep roadways (stress, lithology, and support), the collaborative prevention and control of severe extrusion floor heave were realized, which provides a new method for deep roadway floor heave control and has good application value.

Vibrational performance of wood floors in traditional residential timber structures in southwest China

ABSTRACT As one of the main forms of traditional timber buildings, the column-and-tie timber (Chuan-Dou style) structure is still widely used in South China. Compared to global behavior of those structures, less attention was paid to the vibrational performance of the wood floor systems in the structures. In this study, both traditional wood floor systems and nailed cross-laminated timber (NCLT) floor systems were tested in a full-scale column-and-tie structure. The vibrational properties of the two floor systems, including the fundamental frequency, the deflections at static point load root-mean-square amplitude, were obtained and compared. It was found that in terms of the fundamental frequency and the deflections at static point load, both floors meet the suggested requirements. In the sense of root-mean-square amplitudes, the vibrational performance of both floors is not satisfying. The vibrational performance of the NCLT floor is better than that of the traditional floor, and the vibrational performance of the NCLT floor may be improved further by increasing the number of nails between laminations and changing the boundary conditions in the subsequent study, which is only our speculation, and the real situation needs to be further investigated. This research helps to understand the vibrational performance of traditional wood floors and provides a possible floor system with better vibration serviceability in column-and-tie timber structures.

Preparation of polymeric composite for antiskid flooring purpose

Three polymeric blends were prepared using epoxy, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), and polyurethanes (PU) to develop antiskid surfaces with the required mechanical properties. The optimum mixing ratio was decided according to the results of the coefficient of friction and impact tests. Mechanical properties, including wear, bending, compression, impact, hardness, and water uptake, were measured. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the microscopic features. The results showed variations in the values of coefficient of friction for the three blends, where the epoxy/NBR specimens showed the highest value of 0.81, followed by specimens of epoxy blended with the two types of commercial polyurethanes, Sikaflex™ and Sikaswell™ of 0.73 and 0.69, respectively. The highest wear rate was noticed for the epoxy/NBR specimen, while the epoxy+Sikaflex specimen showed the lowest wear rate compared to other specimens. The epoxy/Sikaflex also showed the highest values for hardness, compared with epoxy/Sikaswell and epoxy/NBR, respectively. The resultant blends showed improved mechanical properties with high slipping resistance, which makes the prepared blends potential alternatives compared to traditional flooring materials.

Application and Development of Antibacterial Wood-Based Panels in Composite Flooring

The floor is indispensable for people's normal daily lives, and the floor is also the object with the highest contact rate in life. With the rapid development of the panel customized home industry, in addition to environmental protection, people have increasingly high requirements for the safety of the materials used. It is necessary to meet the needs of people for floors with the concepts of cleaning, sterilization and health, and to apply antibacterial technology reasonably and efficiently to the floors required for daily life. In modern life, the floor is an important basic component. The existing materials, whether in color or texture, show a variety of aspects, which can achieve a close combination of functionality and artistry, and promote the increase of floor consumption. With the development of society and economy, people's requirements for indoor health are transferring from the safety and environmental protection of raw materials to the height of antibacterial. The trend of applying antibacterial technology on the floor has been formed after the antibacterial technology has been realized in the fields of floor, household appliances, and daily necessities. The floor with antibacterial function not only contains all the characteristics of the traditional floor, but also has the health function of inhibiting and killing the growth and reproduction of harmful bacteria. Antibacterial flooring will have huge potential demand and broad development prospects in the future. The prosperity of the flooring market has also promoted a significant increase in wood consumption. This study discusses the development trend of wood-based panels in antibacterial properties and their applications in flooring. Some suggestions are also provided.

Evaluation of the dynamic response for scaled models of shaped concrete floor slabs

The dynamic response of building structures is an essential design consideration in building acoustics. However, building design is increasingly driven by sustainability goals. Floors can be optimized to reduce material consumption and corresponding carbon emissions, yet geometric changes may cause sound insulation and vibration problems. Although the dynamic performance of traditional floors is well established, the performance of non-traditional shapes is less understood. Before trusting the results of building simulations encompassing optimized floors, the dynamic results should first be validated experimentally. This paper details a numerical finite element analysis method to ascertain the dynamic response of four shaped concrete slabs, with experimental modal analysis used to validate the numerical results. The material properties in the numerical model are updated to match the experimental results. The findings support a computational framework for determining the dynamic response of shaped structures that can then be implemented in future large-scale building models.

Scalable Hridaya kolam and Aishwarya kolam

Kolam is a traditional floor decoration art in the southern part of India. Some patterns are classic and traditional. Two such patterns (or kolams) are Hridaya kolam (also known as Hridaya kamal/kamalam) and Aishwarya kolam. Both these patterns are investigated for their scalability in this work. The mathematical sequence embedded in the pattern of these kolams is discussed. Based on this, the traditional Hridaya kolam is scaled to higher versions. A novel Hridaya kolam pattern has also been proposed. Aishwarya kolam has been taken to the higher versions using the sub-patterns embedded in the design: (i) Damaru structure, (ii) equilateral triangle, and (iii) interleaved triangle, and we get four different kinds of Aishwarya kolams.

Numerical study of the thermo-mechanical behavior of steel–timber structures exposed to fire

The latest trends in the construction industry related to sustainable buildings, has driven the use of timber as a construction material. One example is the continuous increase of timber structural elements made of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) walls and floors. In this context, Steel–Timber Composite (STC) floors, composed of CLT slabs and steel beams, represent a new alternative to traditional floor systems. Some advantages of STC structures are a reduction of the building mass and better thermal insulation, among others. Despite these benefits, the response of timber structures under a fire scenario remains a consistent concern. To address this issue, in this paper the thermo-mechanical response of STC structures exposed to fire is investigated. To this end, a one way coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Method (FEM) approach was employed. The software Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) was used for the CFD fire analyses and ANSYS for the FEM transient heat transfer and thermo-mechanical analyses. Three different STC floor structural configurations, having similar pre-fire performance, were proposed to assess their response when subjected to a given fire scenario. A representative room of a residential building was defined to simulate an accidental fire scenario to which the STC floor structures were exposed. The material properties and fire features were adopted in accordance with the Eurocode Standard and recent investigations found in the literature. The results indicated that after a 30 min fire exposure the CLT slabs showed a 25 mm thick charred layer on their exposed surface. Furthermore, compression failure was identified in the CLT slab upper fibres. Regarding to the steel beams, local buckling, and fracture in the area next to the end supports was observed. Overall, STC structures with closed cross sections steel beams showed a better fire performance than those that included open cross sections such as I-shaped ones.

Experimental study of the behavior of box floor with orthogonal ribbed beams by poplar LVL

Considering the unidirectional layout of ribbed beams and simple structure in traditional wooden floors, it is not suitable for large-span wooden buildings. Six groups of floor ribbed beams with plane size of 4.8 m×3.6 m were designed and manufactured by using poplar laminated veneer lumber (LVL), among which five floor specimens were orthogonal ribbed beams and the other one was traditional. A bending performance test was carried out to analyze the influence of different ribbed beam spacing and high span ratio on the mechanical performance of poplar LVL orthogonal ribbed beams, and its results were compared with that of the traditional floor with ribbed beams. The results showed that the box floors with orthogonal ribbed beams had good integrity during the bending process. Moreover, the change of the high span ratio had an important influence on the bending performance of the box floors with orthogonal ribbed beams, and the change of the spacing of the ribbed beams had a relatively small influence on the flexural performance of the box floors with orthogonal ribbed beams. Under the same conditions, the bending performance of the box floors with orthogonal ribbed beams was better than that of traditional floor.

Multiple Imputation to Salvage Partial Respondents: Analysis of the Forgotten Joint Score-12 After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Missing responses are common when Asian patients complete the Forgotten Joint Score-12 (FJS-12), which is widely used to evaluate total hip arthroplasty (THA). We aimed to provide orthopaedic researchers with a solution for handling missing values in such patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Patients who had undergone primary THA between 1998 and 2016 (n = 1,021) were investigated in 2020. The FJS-12 and 9 other PROMs, including questions related to Asian lifestyle activities, were administered. Risk factors for missing FJS-12 items were investigated. Partial respondents were matched with complete respondents; then, in each pair, the items not completed by the partial respondent were deleted from the responses of the complete respondent. Predictive mean matching (PMM) was performed in an attempt to recover the deleted items, using 65 sets of imputation models. After the missing values had been imputed, we explored patient characteristics that affected the FJS-12, using data from all complete and partial respondents. A total of 652 patients responded to the survey (393 complete and 193 partial respondents). Partial respondents were older, more often female, and less active. Older respondents were more likely to skip items involving the bed, while those who reported a better ability to sit in the seiza style (traditional Japanese floor sitting) were more likely to skip items about chair sitting. The imputed FJS-12 value exhibited excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient for agreement with the true scores, 0.985). FJS-12 values of complete respondents were significantly higher than those of respondents with 4 to 11 missing items (51.6 versus 32.8, p < 0.001). Older age was associated with higher FJS-12 values, which was revealed only via analysis of the multiply imputed data sets (p < 0.001). Analysis of only complete FJS-12 responses after THA resulted in a nonresponse bias, preferentially excluding older, female, and less active individuals and those with a traditional floor living style. Multiple imputation could provide a solution to scoring and analyzing PROMs with missing responses by permitting the inclusion of partial respondents. Therapeutic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Composite connections between CFS beams and plywood panels for flooring systems: Testing and analysis

A composite floor consisting of cold-formed steel (CFS) beams connected to structural plywood panels is a sustainable and economical alternative to concrete only floors or the traditional floor systems supported by solid lumber joists. The structural performance of the composite CFS-plywood floor depends on the strength and stiffness properties of the shear connection. This study presents an experimental investigation into the load-slip behaviour of connections between CFS and plywood panels constructed with self-drilling screws, coach screws, and nut and bolt. The influence of structural adhesives at the shear interface alongside fasteners was also investigated. The stiffness, ductility and load-carrying capacity of the eight different types of connections were evaluated through a series of push-out tests. Nut and bolt connections were demonstrated to be the best choice amongst the shear connectors, followed by self-drilling screws; however, the size of the nuts and bolts should be determined based on the crushing strength of the timber itself. Connection with coach screws was less stiff and relatively less ductile than other tested shear connections. Composite connections with fasteners along with adhesives demonstrated higher stiffness and load-capacity than the fastener alone. Furthermore, a simple analytical expression for the load-slip response of the connections is proposed based on the Foschi formula, which showed a good correlation with test results. Based on the observations in this study, self-drilling screws and M8 nuts and bolts are recommended as shear connectors for lightweight cold-formed steel and timber flooring systems.

Core musculature co-contraction during suspension training exercises

Suspension training reportedly enhances core musculature co-contraction. This study investigated whether the use of a suspension trainer increases core musculature co-activation during exercises vs. its floor counterpart. Participants were 25 healthy volunteers (16 men, 9 women; age: 27.24 ± 4.02 years). Wireless electromyography electrodes were placed bilaterally at the rectus abdominis (RA), erector spinae (ES), and abdominal obliques (OB). Test order (push-up, bridge, and prone plank) was randomized (exercise and condition) with a 3-min rest period between tests. Co-contraction ratios between muscle groups were estimated by root mean square. Ratios (RA/ES, RA/OB, ES/OB) were analyzed using paired t-tests (P ≤ .05). For all floor exercises, co-contraction of core musculature was significantly higher than suspension trainer. During suspension training, perturbations due to increased agonist activation without similar increases in antagonists may be too intense for untrained or injured individuals. Individuals lacking muscle control to recruit muscles concurrently may benefit from mastering traditional floor exercises to promote joint stiffness and stability before suspension trainer exercises.